On Tuesday, June 10, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation via a televised speech, declaring the launch of a significant new national dialogue. He announced that the first of these dialogues would take place on August 15, 2025, bringing together a broad spectrum of civil society groups. This initial national convention aims to serve as a platform for all South Africans to voice their concerns and share their perspectives on the country’s pressing issues.
Following this, a second convention will be held in early 2026 to evaluate and synthesize the insights and proposals gathered from the citizen discussions. This initiative comes amid increasing calls for dialogue across South Africa, which, just over thirty years after the country’s first democratic elections, continues to grapple with economic and social challenges.
President Ramaphosa reflected on the country’s progress since the birth of democracy, highlighting improvements in freedom and opportunities for millions. However, he acknowledged that significant issues remain, including poverty, unemployment, inequality, crime, gender-based and sexual violence, and corruption.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter in our democracy,” Ramaphosa stated. “Therefore, as Head of State, I will convene a national convention on August 15, 2025. This gathering will reflect the diversity of our nation and will serve as the foundation for our national dialogue. In the months following, all South Africans will be encouraged to participate in discussions to shape a brighter future. The views, concerns, and proposals from these citizen conversations will be compiled and presented at a second national convention in early 2026.”
